Protective net, especially for rockfall protection or for verge securing

ABSTRACT

A protective net, especially for rockfall protection or for verge securing, with a diagonal weave, is formed by a three-dimensional mattress-like structure. The same is woven from individual spiral-shaped bent wire strands, wire bundles, wire cables or suchlike, which incorporate two or more wires or wire strands made of steel. It is of great advantage if the wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles or suchlike are made at least in part from high tensile steel, and if the protective nets can therefore be equipped with very great strength.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/628,937 filed Dec. 7, 2006, incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a protective net, especially for rockfall protection or verge securing which is formed by means of a diagonal weave produced from wires and forming a three-dimensional, mattress-like structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A protective net of this type is known from EP-B-0 979 329, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,858 (Eicher). The protective net is designed as a diagonal weave with rhomboid-shaped loops and a three-dimensional mattress-like structure which is woven from individual, spiral-shaped bent wires made of high tensile steel. The wires have a very high tensile strength, so that the weave will retain its three-dimensional mattress-like structure even under stretched conditions and can serve to cover an earth surface as a retainer or stabiliser of vegetation layers. The wire weave can be folded and takes up little space during storage or transport. Thanks to the high bend resistance of the wires the risk of a ladder forming when a wire breaks is reduced.

Eicher discloses forming a diagonal weave from individual or single wires, i.e., the wires 11, 12, 13, 14 forming the netting 10 are individual spiral-shaped wires. Eicher mentions that wires may be heavy-duty steel wires 11, 12, 13, 14, i.e., each wire used in the netting may be a heavy-duty wire. Each such heavy-duty steel wire has a nominal strength between 1000 and 2200 N/mm² and each heavy-duty wire may comprise a stranded steel wire or a spring steel wire. As such, Eicher identifies exemplifying heavy-duty wires that include wires made of steel, which were used for stranded wires, which are defined in the DIN standard 2078, or which were used for spring steel wires, which are defined in the DIN standard 17223.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a protective net of the type mentioned above and to further improve the same in order to substantially reduce the risk of breakage.

This task is solved in accordance with the invention by a protective net, especially for rockfall protection or for verge securing, which is formed by means of a diagonal weave produced from wires and forming a three-dimensional, mattress-like structure, wherein the diagonal weave is woven from wire strands, from wire bundles, or from wire cables. Each of the wire bundles or wire cables incorporates two or more wires or wire strands made of steel. Each of the wire bundles or wire cables of the diagonal weave is spiral-shaped and consists of straight sections that alternate with bent sections, and in each of the straight sections, the wires or wire strands of the wire bundles or wire cables are twisted one about another.

Further preferred embodiments of the protective net of this invention form the subject of the subclaims.

The fact that the protective net of this invention is woven from individual, spiral-shaped bent wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles preferably incorporating two or more wires (or wire strands) made of high tensile steel creates a protective net of great firmness which will permit practically no deformation under load, and which does not require loop fixing elements (for example cross clamps).

The diagonal weave of this invention made of wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles can be produced practically “infinitely” on rolls, whereby the longitudinal roll sides preferably incorporate very firm edge knots in the form of loops formed from wire strand, wire cable, or wire bundle ends.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, whereby:

FIG. 1 shows an overview of a loop of a protective net of this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a partial overview of a protective net;

FIG. 3 shows a partial side view of the net according to FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a protective net system forming verge securing on a slope.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show respectively a protective net for securing an earth surface layer such as for example for verge securing or securing of a rock wall along a road or suchlike, which here takes the form of a square diagonal weave 10 with four- or multi-cornered loops 17 as an example. The diagonal weave 10 is woven from a number of spiral-shaped bent wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles 11, 12, 13, 14, which each incorporate two or more wires 22 made of a high tensile steel. These can consist of wires wound from two or more wire strands, or wires wound from two or more wire bundles, or wire strands turned into a wire cable, or a combination of these elements.

The wires have a nominal strength of between 100 and 2200 N/mm² according to DIN Standard 2078, for example one of 1770 N/mm². It is however also possible to use spring wire steel according to DIN Standard 17223. The thickness of the wire will depend on the necessary tensile strength and can for example be 3 mm.

These wires 22 are normally galvanised and equipped with a coating of zinc/aluminium and/or a plastic coating or a chrome alloy in order to provide the required corrosion resistance. For this a zinc coating with an area weight of between 100 and 250 g/m² can for example be envisaged.

On the side ends of the weave 10 the wire strands, i.e. wire cables, i.e. wire bundles 11, 12, 13, 14 are flexibly connected with one another in pairs via loops 11″, 12″, whereby these loops 11″, 12″ are formed by the wire strands, i.e. wire cables, i.e. wire bundles 11, 12, 13, 14 themselves that are bent at their ends. The wire strands, i.e. wire cables, i.e. wire bundles 11, 12, 13, 14 are preferably additionally equipped with several loops 19 wound around their own circumference after having been bent to form loops, which will guarantee sufficient security against an opening up of the same due to the tensile load applied to these loops in a stretched condition.

The diagonal weave 10 is held on the earth surface at a defined tension by fitting elements 15 sunk into the earth. Preferably one wire or rope 21 each of the spiral-shaped bent edge wire cable, i.e. edge wire strand, i.e. edge wire bundle 11 located at the upper and lower ends of the weave 10 is inserted back into the same, the same being tensioned by the fitting elements 15 against the floor or suchlike. In principle it is also possible that the fitting elements 15 hold the loops 11′ directly.

The individual spiral-shaped bent wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles 11, 12, 13, 14 incorporate an angle of incline α as well as a length L between two bends which determine the form and size of the loops 17 of the diagonal weave 10. It is of advantage for the angle of inclination α if an angle value of approximately 20 to 35° can be selected. The individual loops 17 each form a rhomboid, whereby the loop width can be 77×143 mm for example. This offers the advantage that the weave 10 will not stretch significantly when the same is laid out on the earth surface and tensioned by means of the ropes 21 in a longitudinal direction. In addition the individual loops 17 form a rhomboid with an elongated opening in this way. This has the advantage of a reduced permeability to earth material.

The individual wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles 11, 12, 13, 14 are flexibly held in their woven condition with the result that the diagonal weave 10 can be folded like a mat, i.e. rolled up. Accordingly very little space is required for storage and transport of such weaves.

According to FIG. 3 the weave 10 incorporates a three-dimensional mattress-like structure which is made possible by the use of the high tensile steel wire. The individual wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles 11, 12, 13, 14 are spiral-shaped and bent for this purpose, and then interwoven with one another, so that the weave 10 resulting from this forms an almost rectangular circumference when viewed in cross-section. The wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles therefore consist of bent sections 11′ and straight sections 91, in the latter of which the wires 22 are twisted about one another (see FIGS. 1 and 3). This elongated rectangle has a thickness 10′ of several wire cable, i.e. wire strand thicknesses. This means that this wire weave 10 is three-dimensional even in a pre-tensioned condition. This results in an increased springiness of the weave for one, as the wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles can be stretched in a longitudinal direction with increasing tension and will give this mesh weave an increased elasticity. On the other hand this three-dimensional design provides additional support or stability of the vegetation layers covered by this weave or after coating of earth surfaces, for example verges.

The fact that the protective net of this invention is woven from individual spiral-shaped bent wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles incorporating two or more wires made from high tensile steel turned to form a wire strand or a wire bundle, or two or more wire strands made from high tensile steel turned to form a wire cable, means that a very firm protective net is created which permits practically no deformation under load, and which does not require loop fixing elements (for example cross clamps).

The diagonal weave of this invention made from wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles can be produced practically “infinitely” on rolls, whereby the longitudinal roll sides preferably incorporate very firm edge knots in the form of loops formed from wire strand, wire cable, or wire bundle ends.

Basically the protective nets can however also consist of wire strands, wire bundles, spiral cables with thinner or thicker wires that are not, or only partly made from high tensile steel.

FIG. 1 also shows, at the bent section 11′ at the top of the figure, that the wires 22 of the wire bundles or wire cables 11, 12, 13, 14 are twisted (wound) only partly, not regularly one to each other, e.g., the wires 22 are nearly parallel arranged one to each other and/or at least partly at distance one from each other.

FIG. 4 shows a protective net system 10 according to this invention, which is here used for verge securing 40, for example of a verge 45 located on a steep slope which forms the earth surface layer that is to be secured.

This verge securing 40 consists of the wire weave 10 laid out across a desired verge area and the fitting elements 15 sunk into the ground with which the weave 10 is secured on the earth surface, i.e. claw plates or suchlike. For the fitting elements 15 known ground or rock nails are required, which are preferably affixed at regular intervals into the verge 45. At the upper and lower end of the weave 10 a rope 21 is envisaged with which the weave 10 can be stretched and tensioned.

With such a protective net system it is possible to optimally secure a slope. It is also possible with the net design of this invention to absorb large advancing forces caused by stones or rocks falling into the verge without problem.

With a method according to this invention for producing a protective net 10 a wire strand, a wire bundle, a wire cable 11, 12, 13, 14 or suchlike is introduced at a defined angle of inclination α during a first step at least as far as a spike of a means not illustrated in detail here and bent around the spike in a defined length L by approximately 180°. During further steps the wire strand, the wire bundle, the wire cable 11, 12, 13, 14 or suchlike is advanced by the defined length L several times around its longitudinal axis in relation to the spike 66 and bent around the spike by 180° each time until this wire strand, wire bundle, wire cable 11, 12, 13, 14 or suchlike has taken on a spiral-shaped form. Once these spiral-shaped bent wire strands, wire bundles, wire cables 11, 12, 13, 14 or suchlike have been created the same are woven together with a second spiral-shaped bent wire strand, wire bundle, wire cable or suchlike, then the second with a third, and repeated until the wire weave has reached the desired size.

It is preferred that high tensile wires are used at least in part for these wire strands, wire bundles, or wire cables. It is however also possible to use wires with less firmness. The fact that thicker wire bundles can be used as opposed to individual wires results in an increased overall firmness. 

1. Protective net, especially for rockfall protection or for verge securing, which is formed by means of a diagonal weave produced from wires and forming a three-dimensional, mattress-like structure, wherein the diagonal weave is woven from wire strands, from wire bundles, or from wire cables, each of the wire bundles or wire cables incorporating two or more wires or wire strands made of steel, each of the wire bundles or wire cables of the diagonal weave being spiral-shaped and consisting of straight sections that alternate with bent sections, and in each of the straight sections, the wires or wire strands of the wire bundles or wire cables being twisted one about another.
 2. Protective net according to claim 1, wherein the wires, wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles are made at least in part from high tensile steel.
 3. Protective net according to claim 1, wherein the wires, wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles are flexibly connected with one another at their ends in pairs via loops.
 4. Protective net according to claim 3, wherein the wires, wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles are additionally equipped with at least one loop wound around their own circumference following their bending into loops.
 5. Protective net according to claim 1, wherein the wires or wire strands forming the wire cables or wire bundles are corrosion resistant.
 6. Protective net according to claim 1, wherein the wires or wire strands forming the wire cables or wire bundles have a nominal strength within a range of 1000 to 2200 N/mm².
 7. Protective net according to claim 1, wherein the spiral-shaped, bent wires, wire strands, wire cables, or wire bundles forming the diagonal weave have an angle of inclination (α) of preferably between 25° to 35°.
 8. Protective net according to claim 1, wherein a verge securing incorporates the wire weave, fitting elements that can be sunk into the ground with claw plates or other means for holding the weave to the earth surface, and at least one rope on the surface, holding and stretching the weave.
 9. Method for producing a protective net according to claim 1, wherein a wire bundle, or a wire cable is introduced at a defined angle of inclination (α) at least up to a spike of a means and bent around said spike in a defined length (L) by approximately 180°, and in that the wire bundle or the wire cable is advanced by the defined length L several times around its longitudinal axis in relation to the spike and bent around the spike by 180° each time until this wire bundle or wire cable has taken on a spiral-shaped form.
 10. Method according to claim 9, wherein a spiral-shaped bent wire bundle or a wire cable is woven together with a second spiral-shaped bent wire bundle, or a wire cable, the second with a third, and repeated until the wire weave has reached the desired size.
 11. Protective net formed by means of a diagonal weave produced from individual wires and forming a three-dimensional, mattress-like structure, wherein the diagonal weave is woven from wire bundles or from wire cables, each of the wire bundles or wire cables incorporates two or more of the individual wires made of steel, each of the wire bundles or wire cables is spiral-shaped and consists of straight sections that alternate with bent sections, and in each of the straight sections, the wires are twisted one about another.
 12. Protective net according to claim 11, wherein the wires are made at least in part from high tensile steel.
 13. Protective net according to claim 11, wherein the wire cables or wire bundles are flexibly connected with one another at their ends in pairs via loops.
 14. Protective net according to claim 13, wherein the wire cables, or wire bundles are additionally equipped with at least one loop wound around their own circumference following their bending into loops.
 15. Protective net according to claim 11, wherein the wires are corrosion resistant.
 16. Protective net according to claim 11, wherein the wires have a nominal strength within a range of 1000 to 2200 N/mm².
 17. Protective net according to claim 11, wherein the wire cables, or wire bundles forming the diagonal weave have an angle of inclination (α) of preferably between 25° to 35°.
 18. Protective net according to claim 11, wherein a verge securing incorporates the wire weave, fitting elements that can be sunk into the ground with claw plates or other means for holding the weave to the earth surface, and at least one rope on the surface, holding and stretching the weave.
 19. Method for producing a protective net according to claim 11, wherein a wire bundle or a wire cable is introduced at a defined angle of inclination (α) at least up to a spike of a means and bent around said spike in a defined length (L) by approximately 180°, and in that the wire bundle or the wire cable is advanced by the defined length L several times around its longitudinal axis in relation to the spike and bent around the spike by 180° each time until this wire bundle or wire cable has taken on a spiral-shaped form.
 20. Method according to claim 19, wherein a spiral-shaped bent wire bundle or a wire cable is woven together with a second spiral-shaped bent wire bundle or a wire cable, the second with a third, and repeated until the wire weave has reached the desired size. 